Strap fastener



L. MAUS STRAP FASTENER Feb. 4,1936.

Filed April 9, 1934 IN.VENTOR v Loam Maw @2551,

' ATTORN EY Patented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,029,330 STRAP FASTENER Louis Maus, Baldwin, N. Y. Application April 9, 1934, Serial No. 219,652 8 Claims. (01. 24-69) This invention relates generally to strap fasteners, and more particularly to those of the class applicable to shoes, garment-supporting belts, and gloves.

One object of the invention is to provide means whereby the strap tension may be readily and accurately adjusted and re-adjusted.

Another object is the provision of strap-fastening means more quickly and easily operable than are fasteners of present types.

A further object is the provision of strapfastening means so constructed and arranged that it is unnecessary to weaken the strap by perforatingit.

A still further object is the'provision of a strapfastener which, when applied to womens shoes or gloves, readily lends itself to wide variations in ornamentation for style purposes.

A still further object is to eliminate the loose strap end, which, with certain other types of fasteners, projects beyond the fastening point so far that it requires to be passed through a loop in, order to hold it in position.

Customarily, shoe straps are fastened either by means of a button 'sewed or riveted to one strap and co-operating with a button-hole formed in the other strap; or by means of a socal'led harness type buckle, attachedto one strap and having a tongue which enters one or other of a series of perforations formed in. the other strap.

The button-strap shoe is initially fitted by removing the button from the strap and re-attaching it in a position to give the desired tension over the instep. Should the straps stretch with use or should the foot swell, this tension necessarily changes, and it can be restored only by detaching, re-locating, and re-attaching the button.

With the harness-buckle type of fastener, it is often necessary, in. order to obtain the desired strap tension, to punch an additional hole through the perforated strap, which decreases its durabilityparticularly when it is made of silk orother delicate material.

When applied to womens shoes, both the button type and the harness-buckle type of fastener are objectionable inthat the perforated strap is necessarily weakened; and this weakening limits the minimum width of strap which, from considerations of style, it may be desired to employ. The button type of fastener is further objectionable because of the fact that, with the button so located that the strap is comfortably tight, it is di'fiicult, without the use of a button-hook, to draw the button into the button-hole. Moreover,

this type of fastener does not lend itself to ornamentation.

When applied to shoes, belts or gloves, the harness-buckle type of fastener is open to the further objection that the end of the perforated strap necessarily projects beyond the point where the tongue enters a. perforation. This projecting end is not only unsightly, but it must be held in place by passing it through a loop provided forthat purpose.

Fasteners of the frictional type are unsatisfactory when applied to leather straps, for the reason that the flesh side of the leather soon becomes glazed, so greatly reducing the friction between the fastener and the leather that the gripping action "becomes inadequate.

The present invention overcomes these and other objections inherent in strap-fastening devices now employed on shoes, belts and gloves.

The invention provides a strap fastener one member of which is readily adjustable longitudinally of the strap end on which it is mounted, so that both the initial adjustment and any readjustment which subsequently may become necessary can be made quickly and with nicety.

This invention renders it unnecessary to perforate either of the shoe straps, thus obviating the weakening thereof and permitting of the use of straps of a desired narrow width.

Withthis invention, the strap ends may be much more conveniently fastened in position and unfastened than with either the button or the harness-buckle type of fastener.

Another advantageous feature of the invention is that, for application to womens shoes orgloves, the clasp element thereof permits of widely-varying kinds of ornamentation-as by embossing or enameling the same or employing it as a mounting for brilliants, semi-precious stones, or decorative devices formed of mouldable material.

With this invention, the strap is subjected to no frictional wear, all wear being confined to the metal parts.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein is illustrated the present preferred embodiment thereof as applied to strap shoes.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a portion of a womans shoe, attached to the straps of which are the two members comprising the invention, as they appear in fastened position.

'Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing portions of two strap ends, attached to which, respectively, are the two pear in fastened position.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, partly in section,

and on an enlarged scale, illustrating the clasp-.

assembly member of the device disengaged from the eye member thereof and with the strap cut away to show the means for clamping the clasp assembly to the strap.

Fig. 5 is a plan section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modified form of means for holding the clasp portion of the device in fastened position.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawing.

Referring to the, drawing: which may be of any suitable shape, is adapted to be attached, in any well-known manner, to an end of a strap 2. Adapted to be adjustably mounted on the opposite strap end 3 is a cooperative clasp assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 4. This clasp assembly includes a yoke 5, constructed and arranged to embrace the strap end 3. Mounted in the arms' of this yoke is a pintle 6, which supports two bearings, I and 1a, formedin a plate 8. One end of this plate is bent downwardly at a substantially right angle to the body thereof, as shown in Figs. 2 3 and 4. Formed in the end of this downwardly-projecting portion are serrations, such as 9 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4). In the clamped position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the plate 8 has been turned on the pintle 6 into a position where the serrations so engage the strap end 3 as firmly togrip it between said serrations and the body of the yoke 5. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3: when the plate 8 is'turned upwardly on pintle 6, the serrations are released from engagement with the strap end 3, permitting the clasp assembly 4 to be movedalong the strap to any desired position. When such position is reached, the plate 8 is then turned downwardly, i. e., to the left as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, until the serrations are again brought into clamping engagement with the strap end 3. Thus, the clasp assembly 4 may be adjusted longitudinally of the strap end 3 to provide any desired strap tension.

Formed integrally with the plate 3 and at the end thereof opposite that which has just been considered, are two upwardly-projecting lugs, l0 and Illa (Figs. 2, 3 and 4), which support the ends of a pintle ll (Figs. 2 and 3). Embracing this pintle l'l (Figs. 2 and 3) is a tubular' portion 12, formed integrally'with the clasp proper, l3, of the clasp assembly 4. Formed on this tubular portion I2 is a cam l4 (Figs. 2 and 3). This cameo-operates with a spring 15 (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5) in the following manner'i When the clasp I3 is in the unfastened "position, the spring l5 is unfiexed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. When the clasp I3 is brought into fastened position (Fig. 3), the cam l4 flexes the spring l5, thereby applying pressure to the clasp and holding it in fastened position until it is released therefrom by manually raising the clasp.

A pocket for the spring I5 is formed bylugs 40 and Illa; by projections I 6 and l6athe latter being shown in Fig. 4 as partially broken away; and by a ridge l1 (Figs. 2,3 and 5), formed in the plate 8.

The edges of the clasp. l3 are bent inwardly at An eye member I,

a substantially right angle to the body thereof, and are of a contour to constitute them cams, such as I8 (Figs. 2 and 3).

Referring now to Fig. 2: When the end of the clasp I3 is inserted in the eye member I, and the end which projects therethrough is moved to the right, the eye member I is drawn along these cams (such as l8), progressively increasing the strap tension until said eye member is finally carried to its extreme downward position, where it bears against lugs Ill and 10a; (Fig. 3). It is retained in said position by the clasp l3, which is kept fastened by the hereinbefore-described pressure .of spring l5 against cam I4 of said clasp.

Referring-now to Fig. 6: In lieu of spring l5 shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the end of plate 8 to one end of the belt, and mounting the clasp assembly 4 on the opposite end thereof.

It may be applied to a glove by attaching to one of the sides which define the opening there of a short strap for carrying the clasp assembly 4.

While I have illustrated and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, I do not intend to be understood as limiting myself to this construction. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, without departing from the principle of the invention, it may be embodied in other forms than that whichis illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification.

Iclaim: t

1. In a strap fastener, the combination of an 2. In a strap fastener, the combination of an 7 eye member attached to one strap end, a clasp member co-operative with said eye member, and a serrated clamp operableindependently of said clasp member to attach said clasp member to another strap end, said clasp member and. said clamp being adjustably movable along said second strap end.

3. In a strap fastener, the combination of an eye member attached to one strap end, a clasp member co-operative with said eye member, and a hinged clamp separately operable from said clasp member to attach said clasp member to another strap end, said clasp member and said clamp being adjustably movable along said second strap end.

4. A strap fastener comprising an eye member attached to one strap end, a hinged clasp member co-operative with said eye member, and a separately operable cam member for clamping said clasp member to another strap end, said clasp member and said clamping means being adjustably movable along said second strap end.

5. In a strap'fastener, the combination of an eye member attached to one strap end, a clasp member co-operativewith said eye member, means ior holding said clasp member in fastened position, and means separately operable from said clasp member and said holding means for attaching the clasp member to another strap end at any desired point thereon, said clasp member and said attaching means being adjustably movable along said second strap end.

6. In a strap fastener, the combination of an eye member attached to one strap end, a hinged clasp member co-operative with said eye member, a supporting plate for said clasp member adjustably movable along the other strap end, a hinged clamp on said supporting plate for attaching the same to said second strap end, a spring on said supporting plate, and a cam on said clasp member for flexing said spring to hold the clasp member in fastened position.

7. In a strap connector, the combination with an eye secured to one strap end 01 a clasp assembly adjustably secured to another strap end, said clasp assembly comprising a pair of hingedly connected clamping members adapted to be 'turned into strap gripping relation, and a clasp hingedly mounted on one of said clamping members for receiving and retaining the eye.

8. In a strap connector, the combination with an eye secured to one strap end of a clasp assembly adjustably secured to another strap end, said clasp assembly comprising a pair of hingedly connected clamping members adapted to be turned into strap gripping relation, and a clasp hingedly mounted on one of said clamping members for receiving and retaining the eye, said clasp having a cam extension, and the clasp-carrying clamping member having a spring tongue cooperative with the cam extension to hold the clasp in closed position.

LOUIS MAUS. 20 

